Shackle means



0d." 20, 1959 J. P. RAMEY 2,909,386

SHACKLE MEANS Filed July 12, 1957 INVENTOR.

A 7' TOR/V575 United States Patent ,0

This invention relates to connecting means, and more specifically, the instant invention pertains to a shackle means forconnecting a crane hook or tackle to a'load to belifted for transfer to a 'new site; 1.

It is common knowledge that the transfer of heavy equipment or material from one place to another when the transfer requires the services of two cranes while the load is suspended'is a highly dangerous and time-consuming operation. ,It is not uncommon for the crane lines to become fouled, and in the use of the conventional shacklemeans, the crane hooks frequently become frozen. Under the latter condition, it is necessary for a man to climb out on the load and use a sledge hammer to disengage one hook from the other, an operationthat is not only dangerous and difiicult, but is often almost impossible," i m Thus, one of the primary objects of-this invention is to provide a new and unique shackle which will permit the transfer of a load from one crane to a second crane, the transfer being accomplished without the possibility of fouling the lines of the two cranes and wherein it is impossible for the two crane hooks to become frozen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shackle with means for quickly and easily connecting and disconnecting a load with a crane hook.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of shackle means which is noncomplex in construction, assembly and use, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a shackle consiructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, this figure being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 illustrates the shackle in one position for effecting the transfer of a load from one crane to a second crane;

Figure 4 illustrates the position of the shackle with the weight of the load borne equally by two cranes; and

v Figure 5 shows the complete transfer of the load from the first crane to the second crane with the hook of the first crane being disengaged from the shackle.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral designates, in general, a shackle device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The shackle 10 is seen to comprise an inverted substantially. U-shaped member 12 having an arcuate bight 14 from the end of which projects a pair of laterally spaced, substantially parallel and confronting arms 16, 18. The member 12 is identically constructed with respect to a second inverted substantially U-shaped member, and corresponding elements of the second member bear the same reference numerals as the first but with a prime 2,909,386 Patented Oct. 20, 1959 mark added thereto to effect difierentiation therebetween.

- -As is seen in the drawing, the bights and arms of the members 12, 12' have a substantially circular transverse cros's-sectional'configuration and are disposed at an acute angle relative to each other with the outer ends thereof being integrally connected at 20, 22. The integrally con-' nected ends 20, 22 are apertured at 24, 26 and have oppositely disposed flattened sides 28, 30 and 32, 34 re'spectively, which serve a function to be described.

The shackle 10 includesfa substantially U-shaped con-' nector element 36 having a bight 38 from the opposed ends of which extend a pair of laterally spaced, substantially parallel and confronting arms 40, 42 having aperture s 50, 52 extending transversely therethrough adjacent theirrespective outer ends. As before, the bight and the arms extending therefrom of the U-shaped connector 36 are substantially circular in transverse cross-section, and the remote sides of the arms 40, 42 adjacent their respective outer ends are flattened for smooth sliding engagement with the flattened adjacent smooth sides 30, 32 formed at the junctions 20, 22 of the inverted U-shaped members 12, 12'.

.The connector 36 is releasably secured between the junctions '20, 22 by aligning the apertures 24, 26, 50 and: 52 after which a wing bolt 54 having a threaded end56 is extended therethrough. Lock nut 58 threaded on the threaded end 56 prevents inadvertent accidental displacement, or withdrawal of .thebolt 54. The winged head 60 of the .bolt. 54 is provided with a diametrically extending cylindrical bore62 to serve a function to be.

referred to below.

It should be noted at this point that the flattened remotely positioned sides 28, 34 formed at the junctions 20, 22 permit the adjacent sides of the head 60 and nut 58 to fit snugly thereagainst.

Figures 3 to 5, inclusive, illustrate the operation of the shackle 10 through a series of steps. In these figures reference numeral 64 designates a cable having its opposed ends fixedly secured to a load 66 which is to be transferred by means of a crane or other lifting device from one position to another. In Figure 3, the cable 64 is seen to be extended through the U-shaped element 36 between the arms 40, 42 thereof, and the opposite ends of the cable depend from the bight portion 38.

A crane hook 68 is connected to a crane cable 70 and is releasably engaged with the bight portion 14 of the inverted U-shaped member 12. The load 66 is maintained in a selected elevated position while the hook 72 connected with the second crane through cable 74 is swung into position for engagement with the bight porgionli4' of the inverted substantially U-shaped mem- After the hook 72 has engaged the bight 14' the hook 72 is raised to effect a pivotal movement of the inverted substantially U-shaped members 12, 12 about the axis of the bolt 54. Figure 4 illustrates the positions of the hooks 68 and 72 when the load 66 is distributed equally therebetween.

As the hook-72 continues to rise, the load 66 is gradually transferred to the hook 72 and when the transfer is complete the hook 68 becomes disengaged from the bight 14 as is illustrated in Figure 5.

It will be understood, of course, that after the hook 72 has been engaged with the bight 14' the load transfer may be accomplished by maintaining the hook 72 at a fixed elevation while the hook 68 is permitted to gradually descend.

After the transfer of the load 66 to the desired point by the second crane and its hook 72, an elongated substantially cylindrical tool or lever (not shown) is inserted into the bore 62 and is rotated to effect disengagement of the nut 58 from the bolt 54. The bolt 54 is then withdrawn from the aligned apertures 24,26; 50, 52 and around the cable 64- for engagement around a? similar ner described, supra.

- Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shackle comprising a pair of substantially U- shaped members, each of said members having. a bight from the ends of which extenda pair of arms in laterally spaced, substantially parallel relation, the outer ends of one pair of said arms being fixedly secured to the outer ends of the other pair of said arms, said U-shapedmembers being inclined at an acute angle relative to each other, a substantially U-shaped connector, said connector having a bight from the ends of which extend a pair of arms in laterally spaced, substantially parallel relation, and means pivotally connecting the outer ends of the arms of said connector with said outer ends of said arms of said U-shaped members.

2. A shackle of the type defined in claim 1, wherein said outer ends of the arms of said pair of U-shaped members are integrally connected.

3. A shackle comprising a pair of substantially U- shaped members, each of said U-shaped members having a bight from the ends of which extend a pair of arms in laterally spaced substantially parallel and confronting relation, the outer ends of one pair of arms being integrally connected with the outer ends of the other pair of said arms, said integral connections of said outer ends of said arms having an aperture extending transversely therethrough, a substantially U-shaped connector having a bight from the ends of which extend a pair of arms in laterally spaced substantially parallel and confronting relation, the outer ends of said arms of said connector having an aperture formed therein extending. transversely thereof, said outer ends of said arms of said connector being juxtaposed with respect to said integrally connected ends of said pair of U-shaped members with said apertures aligned one with another, and a bolt extending through said aligned apertures to pivotally connect said pair of U-shaped members to said connector.

4. A shackle as described in claim 3, wherein said integrally connected arms of said pair of U-shaped members are provided with flattened adjacent and remote sides at the outer ends thereof, and the outer ends of said arms of said connector are provided with remotely disposed flattened sides for pivotal engagement with said adjacent sides of said arms of said pairs of U-shaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,030,527 Nelson June 25, 1912 1,567,719 Erlandsen Dec. 29, 1925 2,346,277 Sherman Apr. 11, 1944 2,371,009 Wirkkala Mar. 6,1945 2,616,648 Budreck Nov. 4, 1952 2,649,616 Swanson Aug. 25,, 1953 

